In a rare event at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a team of veterinarians and assistants conducted an eye surgery on a leopard. Conducted between 11 am and 2 pm on Sunday, the operation was necessitated by old wounds the leopard had suffered after several bouts of in-fighting in the national park. "The leopard, a male which is eight years old, was suffering from problems in both eyes,' said wildlife veterinarian at the park, Dr Kishor Batwe. One eye was deformed and also had fibrosis, which was obstructing his vision, said Dr Batwe.

Solan: Alert villagers today helped save the life of a female leopard trapped by poachers in Badah village near Kasauli. Sources in the forest department revealed that the leopard was first noticed by some villagers after they heard roars of the animal in the morning. They immediately informed the forest officials, who seung into action. The trap was laid by some unknown poachers in the field of one Amar Singh, a farmer in Badah village.

Workers of the Lohporya Tea Estate here caught three Leopard cubs today. Later they were handed over to the Forest Department which released them at a safer spot. Assistant Conservator of Forests Gunin Saikia said in view of the increased man-leopard conflict in which many leopards had been killed in the district in the last few years, the Forest Department was considering relocating the three cubs to another place. But since the cubs were too small to be separated from their mother, they were released nearby.

Terrorized by leopards, workers of the Tinsukia Division of Meleng Tea Estate in the district has decided to temporarily stop work today. Sources said that the workers had gone to the division in the morning when Nagen Munda (40) who was in front was mauled by a big cat while the other panic-stricken labourers fled the scene. The leopard, which pounced from a nearby drain, however, did not go in for the kill and escaped in the melee. Sources said that for the past few days three leopards had been sighted in the area and working in the divisions of Meleng Tea Estate had become a risk.

Many veterinarian doctors and medical experts in Sikkim are engaged in an endeavour for captive-breeding and prevent various animal species from facing extinction. Recently, Sikkim Anti-Rabies and Animal Health programme (SARAH) in cooperation with the Sikkim Government's department of Animal Husbandry, saved the life of a common Leopard through caesarian operation. It was for the first time that a C- section had been performed on an animal here.

After dolphins, leopards have taken the state by surprise. Sighted in kandi belt, the wild cat, it was learnt, has made the area its new habitat. Sources say earlier, leopards used to come to Hoshiarpur, Garhshankar, Siswan and Pathankot in winter, from November to February, as the hilly regions became sparse in prey. But they had never made the region their habitat. Leopards have been here for about a year, says Satinder Singh, Siswan range officer, adding, "This is a recent phenomenon. We have seen pugmarks of leopards and a cub.'

The AP forest department has decided to create 1,000 water holes in reserve forests to ensure that thirsty panthers don't stray into human habitations and get killed. Forest officials will be particularly focusing on forests with a high population of panthers located in the fringe areas of cities. They will also create artificial waterfalls in these areas and also in the elephant sanctuary in Kuppam.

The state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau seized a seven-foot-long leopard skin and arrested three persons at a naka near Yol bridge last night. Those arrested were Kapil Dev, Rakesh Kumar and Mandeep Choudhary of Baldhar. A case has been registered under Section 51 (1) A of the Wildlife Protection Act, Section 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The cost of the seized skin was estimates to be around Rs 5 lakh in the international market.

Three leopards, including two cubs, were found dead in the forests of Medak district in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. The forest officials found the carcasses of a female leopard and her two cubs in Sherkhan Palli forest area of Hathnur mandal of Medak district, some 200 km from here. The officials suspect that leopards were poisoned for their skin. The forest department has ordered a probe.

Villagers of Motu Sangam in Gandhari mandal killed a leopard which strayed into their village on Thursday afternoon by raining blows with strong clubs. The died instantaneously.